﻿Diplomacy is not donation

Published Date :
24 December, 2018 4:50 pm

-Saurav Raj Pant

Nepal’s Foreign Ministry must have to clarify the differences in recent PR of bilateral meeting released by both Nepali & the US authorities about the confusion of ‘Indo-Pacific strategy and Indo-Pacific region’. Diplomacy is not donation. It’s done with Carrot and Stick. The Diplomat should see both Carrot and Stick sides.

By Saurav Raj Panta (24 December 2018) – These days, Kathmandu’s diplomacy is boiling. This boiling is the cause of the recent statement made by the US that, ‘Nepal is the part of the Indo-pacific strategy’ whereas Nepali side completely rejects any such agreement being made during recent bilateral meeting held in Washington. But, this disarray becomes even outpouring as the Press Release (PR) made by the US Embassy in Kathmandu and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kathmandu is different. According to the US Embassy in Kathmandu, “Nepal’s central role in a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific; and global issues, including North Korea”, whereas PR made by Nepali foreign ministry’s, there hasn’t been any mention about the word ‘Indo-Pacific’.

In
December 23th, 2018 Press Conference organized in MOFA, our FM Mr. Gyawali said
that, Nepal doesn’t have global or
regional strategic ambitions. All that was said during the meeting was that
Nepal can play a role in the Indo-Pacific region.” He also added that, “Indo-Pacific region and Indo-Pacific
strategy are two different things”.

Now,
comes another tricky part, why in the US statement it mentions about North
Korea? The Korean Peninsula is highly debated issues in International politics.
Don’t US know differences about ‘Indo-Pacific Strategy’ & ‘Indo-Pacific
region’? The country with around 800 military bases around the world doesn’t
know about the simple difference between region and strategy is a bad joke. Why
did it include North Korea and mentions about Nepal’s central role? There are
many questions arises and one should read between the lines. The reading
between the lines means that, US (with India) in Indo-Pacific strategy wants to
include Nepal and try to cut-off China.
Inside India also, the effort is already in effect to make China as the
ultimate fear factor in India; triggering Indian government to do
counter-attack on China. In Nepal, creating India as the fear factor forcing
India to act and if India acts against Nepal put China on the ground. In this
way, the disturbed Asian region will be disadvantageous to make 21st
century; an Asian century.

Technically,
understanding there is China, India & Russia (CIR) led by China & US,
Germany, France & UK (UGFU) led by the US as the core front runner in
current world politics. Both these CIR & UGFU are in a race to make this 21st
century as their own century. Based on several reports, this 21st
century is the century of Asia. But, West is reluctant to accept this reality.
So, West is engaging in the multiple fronts against China, India and also with
Russia to create breakage in several ways whereas to destabilize west in own
terms, China and Russia is engaging in terms of BRI and Oil politics. The
conflict within CIR or UGFU creates a world a detente. Otherwise, strong UGFU
means disturbance in Asia and its periphery and strong CIR means disturbance in
Middle East & Western world. How can
this be proved?

Proof number 1:

When Turkey and India
engaged with Iran for geopolitical interest fulfilling and oil buying
respectively, there was successful attempt made to weak both Turkish Lira and
Indian Rupee against US $ via increase in the price of oil in the month of
October-November, 2018.

This weakening of
Indian currency had increased oil price in India with nationwide protest. Due
to pegging effect, weak Indian Rupee against US$ also had affected to become
weak Nepali currency against US$.

This attempt to create
tension in the Asia has a wider vision of creating breakage in CIR and
ultimately retaining global power by UGFU which was created since Renaissance
period.

Proof number 2:

In November, 2018 China
and Russia looked new payment system to ditch US$——control in the global
financial system means controlling the world.
According to Hoover Institute report, China is engaged in multiple
fronts in disrupting the US———from cyber war, trade war, intellectual
property rights, intellectual exchange programs, NGO etc.

Despite currency war
against India and 2+2 dialogue meeting between US-India, India continued to buy
weapons from Russia and oil from Iran. So, to avoid CATSA, India started
trading with Iran on Indian currency. This is the attempt of the wider strategy
of CIR in 21st trying to create breakage in UGFU alliance. Breakage
in UGFU alliance means dominant CIR. Dominant CIR means century of Asia.

Way forward

This
proof number 1 and 2 is just an example list. The list can be longer. There is only one thing works in diplomacy
i.e. is promoting and achieving vested interest of one’s country by hook or
crook method. Nepal should understand that, religious and cultural diversity of
vulnerable country is little boon and more curse if it is mishandled. This can
be observed from the history of various countries of Asia and Africa where
existing dominant culture and religion was forcefully made radicalized and
moderate leading to never ending conflict. Externally, diplomacy is glamorous
job with wearing neat and clean clothes, drinking matinee and travelling in
luxurious cars and frequent foreign trips. But, on glamour posture there is
‘dark reality’ inside it. United Nations Offices in New York or Geneva has a
charming effect but Madam and Sir, diplomat are assigned for specific missions
by their country. Our diplomats should understand this and act accordingly in
the best possible way to stop the CIR and UGFU factors for Nepal. There
shouldn’t be any excuse for diplomats. To save country, even smaller and weaker
nations can/have to play pivotal role. Example includes Estonia. It is now most
cyber prepared country to counter foreign cyber hacking.

Understanding
all these realities, Nepal’s Foreign Ministry must have to clarify the
differences in recent PR of bilateral meeting released by both Nepali & the
US authorities about the confusion of ‘Indo-Pacific
strategy and Indo-Pacific region’. Diplomacy is not donation. It’s done
with Carrot and Stick. The Diplomat should see both Carrot and Stick sides.
Only considering Carrot sometimes proves deadliest. Unfortunately, we Nepali
have a habit of observing only Carrot. Let’s change it.

Author is an IR analyst and
affiliated with the US based Think Tank known as Nepal Matters for America

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